Body-Fighting

A glass with water is held up and the classic question is asked. Some answer that the glass is half empty, while others say the glass is half full. What if we consider that the glass may just be too big.

We frequently choose to judge our experiences by our expectations. What if we chose to view our situations with the spirit that the glass has just the right amount of water in it ? What if we approached the present with the belief that in any given moment what is happening is what is suppose to be happening ? Would we experience less dissatisfaction, loneliness and anxiety ?

As a bodyworker I've often observed that our culture fosters a considerable denial of what is natural. We act as if we are smarter than Mother Nature. In many ways, we flaunt the laws of nature by our technology and grandiosity. I feel that chief among these is our attitude toward fatigue.

How frequently do you find yourself fighting fatigue ? Is it really an enemy ? What if if you responded to fatigue as a friendly message from your body ? Would you enjoy fatigue as an opportunity to rest, relax and rejuvenate more ?

1) Begin by accepting fatigue as a natural part of the energy flow of the body, mind and spirit. A path may have it's peaks and valleys. In the same way, at times we experience periods of high energy output and performance. These are naturally followed by periods of low energy and restoration. In the body, specifically, muscles utilize nutrients (oxygen, calcium, magnesium, etc.) to allow them to perform their function and then proceed to go into a fatigue phase. Imaging the muscle cells as small fireplaces that utilize the nutrients as wood, it is easily seen that there will be waste products similar to ash. A new fire can not be started in a fireplace choked with ash. So, the fatigue phase is best understood as a cleansing time when waste (lactic acid, etc.) is released from the tissue and replace with new nutrients. The cleansing phase can be enhanced by massage, flushing the body with clean drinking water, improving circulation through gentle movement (walking, yoga, etc.) and reducing resistance through stretching and relaxation techniques.

2) Continue by being mindful of the ways in which you to try to resist fatigue. These may take the blatant form of chemicals like caffeine, nicotine, stimulants, eating sugars or drinking alcohol. Or they be more subtle in manifesting stimulating behavior such as anger, chronic worry, or creating crises. It is possible to play "the mind over matter" game and override the bodies natural warning system. This can be helpful in a short term emergency when we have to keep going despite our feeling fatigue. But, practicing these emergency measures as a life style is the equivalent of pulling the batteries out of your smoke detector. The results being the body having to take drastic measures to slow you down by exhaustion, learned insomnia, depression, or disease. It is of no benefit to have outstanding production if it results in the house (body) burning down.

3) Cultivate a respect and enjoyment of the quieter, more reflective aspects of your energy and mood swings. Smile to yourself at a job well done or cry if you feel sad and enjoy the sweet sadness of the rain of tears as they cleanse your heart. Emotionally fatigue is a time for releasing and letting go of the things we no longer need. These may include grudges that we can forgive, old fantasies that drive us but do not reflect our true passions, or self-imagery that is false and no longer serves us.

Spiritually, fatigue is an opportunity to humbly experience our humanness. To allow our very limitations to invite us to be open connection with Spirit greater than ourselves and the community of the spirits of others who can support and enhance our lives.

The next time you feel fatigue, I invite you to reflect that our mission in life may be quality not quantity. The successful voyage may be seen more in the degree in which we enjoy the journey rather than the number of miles traveled. Our fulfillment may be most evident in the way that we are loving company for ourselves and our fellow travelers. Rest and enjoy !